Duckling Brooder Setup Pictures Wanted!

[Pollo Blanco]

I had to keep a towel over the wire rack beneath my water station for a few days because the ducks didn't like the feel of the smooth food grade stainless beneath their feet. I'd imagine that galvanized hardware cloth is even less comforting to the day old ducklings.

 

[Isaac 0]

I had to keep a towel over the wire rack beneath my water station for a few days because the ducks didn't like the feel of the smooth food grade stainless beneath their feet. I'd imagine that galvanized hardware cloth is even less comforting to the day old ducklings.

I'm not a duck, but I would personally rather be on towels than wire, but then again I'm not a duck so I don't know.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

I'm not a duck, but I would personally rather be on towels than wire, but then again I'm not a duck so I don't know.

Call me Dr Dolittle; my ducks told me.

 

[cheezenkwackers]

I do not have any pictures of my brooder all clean and pretty before ducklings. Nor do I have pictures of when it is in it's larger pvc/mesh pen, in my classroom, where it usually is. Most of these pictures are when I have ducklings home for the weekend. That said, my brooder is a large, plastic storage container with the side cut out of it using a welding tool. The hole is covered with screening wrapped in duct tape. Years ago, I read an article, on this site, which said that chicks raised in brooder they could see out of where less skittish and more personable. The theory was that if they could see that there was a world beyond the brooder, they learner that every little movement wasn't a threat. Anyway, I tried it for ducklings and they seem to like it. The screen door also turns into a ramp to let them in and out to swim. I only let them swim when they are being watched and increase the depth and length of time gradually. Still, by the time they are a week old, they have access to swimming water most of the day. I do have the advantage of high schoolers watching them all day.
I find the ducklings like having a feather duster to hide under. I use pine shavings but I cover the shavings with rubber shelf liner for the first couple of days. The plants in the pots are pea shoots. They love to grab a nibble as they swim.
(Ignore the two chicks in the first photo, they were late hatchers that I had to keep for a day, the ducklings are in the water.)

 

[cheezenkwackers]

Ducklings really like water. As strange it seems, this actually keeps my brooder more dry because they aren't playing in their drinking water.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

I am getting my ducklings today (at first they told me friday) so I'm in a rush to make sure I have everything before their arrival. This was EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you so much for this post, very easy to get to and know what to look for.

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

Holderread waterfoul farm recomends wire for the first two weeks and i must say its very clean and they cant eat it. Also metzers points out that deep water is not required for ducks as long as they are not in dusty conditions. I know this is controvetsial information but what im trying to say is there is more then one way to do things and rarely is only one of them correct. Certainly you dont want to burn your barn down with an unsecured clamp light but lets try to me more open minded and less judgemental about peoples duck raising.

Y'know, I was told this as well at the local feed store. But they were trying to convince me to buy ducklings with my chicks and that was my initial worry was the mess in the brooder.

 

[Stoney Meadow Maple]

ours evolved as it went along but this worked well, had some stockade fence scraps from a job kicking around so I used them, did a tarp bottom that I can tear out and replace if needed and it came up the side a bit so water didn't run under and ruin our floor. its 4x6

 

[Maddog_photog]

I’ve got two brooders set up. Brooder one is for my brand spanking new Swedish Blues: DuckDuck & Goose. Featuring (I think) a chick waterer full of food, and a chick feeder full of water! The waterer is ontop of a metal rack I found at Home Depot inside a paint trough to catch water and Lil bb duck poops. The second brooder houses my 10-week old Pekins, Chowder and Waddles, overnight only as I search for someone to help construct a permanent and SAFE duck house. It’s simple: straw on the bottom, and a repurposed gallon water bottle with a hole cut out of the corner for a waterer.

 

[Maddog_photog]

Extra large dog kennel tie wrapped together View attachment 2229400.this accomadated 4 Runner ducklings. I start out with puppy pads and after a week sometimes 2 I switch to shavings over top. From the first brooder then they move into the guest bathroom. Usually just a few weeks before transitioning outside.

Smart idea with the repurposed Dog Kennel..!